A NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF EVANSVILLE STATE HOSPITAL

VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Year End Reflection By Gene Schadler, L.C.S.W., Superintendent As I am writing this, there are flurries blowing and below freezing temperatures. The

coldness, short days, and starkness of winter is a time for the Earth to rest as it prepares for the

seasons ahead. This is also a time for us to reflect on our next steps organizationally, as well as

individually.

Last year the State Psychiatric Hospitals made history with the implementation of the first fully

functional electronic medical records system – Cerner. Evansville State Hospital staff did a

tremendous job integrating and adjusting to our new records program. This is a tribute to our

staff, who work hard to do the best that they can within the realms of electronic medical

records, patient care, maintenance of our facility, and quality treatment.

In addition, when there is a challenge, hardship, or need, our staff pull together to address the

issue head on. In 2019 staff at Evansville State Hospital donated more than $10,000 to those in

need through the State Employees’ Community Campaign. When there is a situation with a

fellow staff or within our community, teams of people pull together to donate money, provide

food, or assist in any way possible to aid our fellow peers. Thank you for all that you do to

build a better community. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated!

The 2020 Evansville State Hospital Strategic Plan has been developed to give direction to the

hospital and set our priorities for the year to come. We will continue to strengthen patient care

using continuous improvement concepts known as High Reliability. This will include ongoing

education and projects in every department that will allow us to view our challenges as

opportunities for growth. This helps us to strengthen our communication, collaboration, and

environment as we work to provide Hope and Recovery to all of our patients.

Christmas Season

Thanks

2

Years of Service

Recognition

3

SECC Breaks Records 4

Inside this issue: Music Ministry The hospital provides worship services on

Sundays and Wednesdays each week. We are

looking to expand our musical offerings on the

1st and 3rd Wednesday services from 4-5:00

p.m., and are looking for musicians/small

choir groups to help with this on a quarterly

basis. If you can help provide worship music,

please contact the Community Services office

at 812-469-6800, ext. 4208.

Quilts Thank you Elaine Smith for your time

and talents! Elaine worked diligently for

many months to finish the two quilt tops

donated to the hospital by employee

John Sakel. They’re beautiful and

perfect for the winter season.

Page 2

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Donations of Amazon gift cards

are accepted to download music

onto the patients’ mp3 players.

Other items wanted for

recreation are a Wii system,

karaoke machine, karaoke CD’s,

a throw and roll one-hole golf

set, bowling sets, and playing

cards (www.flaghouse.com).

Contact Community Services if you

can help at 812-469-6800 ext. 4208.

Did You Know?

What a joyful Christmas season we had! Approximately 140

volunteers visited the hospital in December to bring cheer to our

patients. And more than 150 sponsors purchased gifts for our

patients filling their wish lists. A special thanks goes out to each one

of you for your efforts to plan fun holiday activities as well as hunt

down the specific gift items requested.

With your generosity and fellowship, the patients celebrated the

season with dancing, singing, and entertaining games and activities.

Did I mention the good food and holiday treats? Yes, there was

plenty of that as well. A unique activity this year was the making of

prayer boxes that were in the shape of Santa’s boot with small

sheets of paper for individual blessings and prayers. Many wrote

down their hope for peace, love, health and happiness for each other, for their families

and friends, and for the world.

Many of our patients received music devices, mp3 players, that are utilized daily by

patients for relaxation and wellness. Music soothes the soul, and can brighten one’s

mood. Music lyrics have been known to inspire and help reflect on life’s journey.

Personal care products are highly requested as practicing good body hygiene helps you

feel good about yourself boosting your mental health. Those pleasant smelling

body washes, lotions and sprays refreshes a person, generates feelings of self-

confidence. Pleasant smells are known to de-stress and act as a distraction

lifting one’s mood and even reducing one’s pain.

Sponsors sometimes worry about clothing preferences, colors and styles. The

best gift is sometimes something you would normally not purchase for yourself.

Dressing up and wearing bright colors does impact your mood. And what a

rush it can be when someone compliments you on your appearance or new

clothes.

Thank you for blessing the patients with your time, talents, and treasures. Your

contributions made the Christmas holiday a special one!

Christmas Season Thanks By Theresa Arvin, Community Services Director

Decorations in the gym were

of a Candyland theme with

large lollipops and

gingerbread. Taffy

ornaments adorned the two

nine foot Christmas trees.

Above: Metro Ballroom Dance Club members

warm up before the holiday party given by the

Southwestern IN Building Trades Council. Clowns

partook in the dancing and passed out stickers.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Page 3

Sherry Breeden, Nursing Service

Leslie Davis, Nursing Service

Brianna Landstrom, Nursing Service

Lesley Shelton, Nursing Service

Karen Wathen, Nursing Service

Cathy Brandenstein,

Nursing Service

Years of Service Recognition

In November, employees were honored with a barbecue meal and many received

certificates for their years of service anniversaries. This event was hosted by the Employee

Recognition Committee.

Attention Visitors Please utilize the lobby lockers to store

personal belongings while visiting.

Please no cell phones and cameras.

If you don’t feel well, please stay at home. You

should not visit if you have a presence of a cough

and/or fever. The flu virus is contagious several

days before signs and symptoms are seen which

makes prevention challenging.

5 YEARS Kristen Blikken Brandon Bretzinger Cassie Bretzinger Christy Disney Andrew Hartmann Dennis Hilderbrand Meagen Madison Carrie Marrett Stephen Mathis Sharon Mingus-Young Phyllis Phillips Donna Washington Kevin Weaver

10 YEARS Francian Clardy Michelle Feast Amanda Gray Marsha Howell Steven Schiavone-LaRue Mary Summers Jeff Wedding Mary Jane Will

15 YEARS Natalie Corum John Cowling Kathleen Dick Linda Hogan Benita Willett

20 YEARS Shane Hickrod Melissa Williams

25 YEARS Kim Bennett Vickie Hatcher Melody Kebortz Eula Wilson

30 YEARS Charles Smith Macie Uplinger

35 YEARS Sherrie Huffman Paula Hurst Terri Morris Debbie Wilson

Francian Clardy receives a certificate for 10 years of

service by Superintendent Gene Schadler.

New Employees

Cari Brown, Switchboard

Shaileigh Crane, Environmental Services

Detrick Grant, Physical Plant

Ashley Reavis, Environmental Services

John Sakel, Nursing Service

Chelsey Schlumpf, Environmental Services

Toccara Wilson, Environmental Services

Goodbye Employees

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Editor: Theresa Arvin

Evansville State Hospital

3400 Lincoln Avenue

Evansville, IN 47714

812-469-6800, ext. 4208

Theresa.Arvin@fssa.in.gov

COMMUNITY CONNECTION is published every

other month for friends of Evansville State Hospital.

News items are welcome and should be submitted

to the Community Services Office.

Newsletter Contributors: Brenda McKinney, Gene

Schadler, Donna Mesker, Steven Schiavone-LaRue

WE’RE ON THE WEB!

WWW.IN.GOV

SECC Breaks RecordsThe state achieved it’s record setting goal

of $1.6 million in pledges to charities

through the State Employees’ Community

Campaign. FSSA also broke a record with

pledges over $198,000. ESH employees

pledged over $10,200 to their favorite

charities. The SECC events at ESH this year

included a coffee and donut kick-off, photo

contests, a picnic,

and chili cook-off.

The “Together We

Serve” photo contest

was won by Asst.

Superintendent Jeff

Wedding with his photo

depicting a gathering of

scouts from St. John’s

Pack 330 after an

environmental project at

the riverfront. Other

entries pictured are the

ESH Management Team

and Key family.